Nick Linford | Schools Week

Kendall challenged over ‘comfortable rhetoric’ on aspiration after business and union school visits pledge

Labour leadership hopeful Liz Kendall has been challenged over her “comfortable rhetoric” on aspiration and pledges to encourage business visits to schools. In a speech at De Montfort University on Friday Ms Kendall, pictured above, pledged to create a programme called “inspiring the future” if she wins the leadership. The scheme would see businesses, trade […]

UTCs take eight spaces in list of 50 worst for absence

Eight University Technical Colleges (UTCs) have been listed among England’s worst providers for overall absence. The Department for Education statistics, for last autumn, show how Elutec, in Essex, is the worst of the UTCs with a figure that put it at eighth in the list of shame among providers which recruit pupils aged five to […]

Labour leadership hopeful Kendall to announce plans to send businesses and trade unionists into schools

Businesses, community activists and union members could be sent into schools to promote how education can “transform children’s lives” under plans due to be outlined today by Labour leadership contender Liz Kendall. The Leicester West MP who has been an unexpected force in the leadership contest triggered by Ed Miliband’s resignation on May 8, will […]

Cambridge on track to meet state school admissions target after 1.3 per cent rise

The University of Cambridge looks set to meet its target for admissions of state school and college pupils after figures from last year’s intake revealed the percentage of successful UK applicants educated in the state sector rose to 62.2 per cent. The university, tasked by the Office for Fair Access to admit between 61 and 63 per […]

Who are the Regional Schools Commissioners and why do they matter?

The Queen’s Speech revealed plans to extend the powers of the Regional Schools Commissioners. But who are they? Eight regional school commissioners were appointed last summer and currently preside over all academies in England. We’ve interviewed them all – so if you want to put faces to names click through to our interviews with them […]

Plans to force academisation of ‘coasting’ schools set out in Queen’s Speech

Her Majesty The Queen has today set out plans to force “coasting” schools to become academies. A new education and adoption bill was one of the first pieces of legislation announced in the Queen’s Speech this morning, and sets out the legal means by which the government will tackle schools labelled as “coasting”, a new status […]

Queen’s Speech Live: What’s in it for schools and teachers?

Reporter Freddie Whittaker is on hand to bring you live updates from the official state opening of Parliament and Queen’s Speech. 12.10pm: And here are the briefing notes on childcare… To provide for an increased entitlement to 30 hours a week of free childcare (for 38 weeks of the year) to be made available to eligible […]

What should schools and teachers expect from the Queen’s Speech?

To many outsiders, the Queen’s Speech may look like a lot of pomp and circumstance and not much else, but it is a significant event in terms of policy. As well as being the only regular occasion on which all three branches of Parliament meet, the speech also announces the government’s legislative programme – which […]

Labour leadership contender Liz Kendall supports free schools

Labour leadership contender Liz Kendall has said she supports free schools – in contrast to previous Labour policy. Appearing at a Parliamentary Press Gallery lunch, Ms Kendall said she would support any type of school providing its pupils with a “great education”. She said: “As leader, I’m not going to waste time obsessing about school […]